Alice Chandler pursued this lesson over a three-day period and was able
to take advantage of block scheduling. She covered two activities per
day, alternating between whole-class discussions and committee work. Time
was the biggest challenge, however. In hindsight, she felt that students
would have had a better opportunity to bring all elements of the lesson
to closure if they had had more time, perhaps by spending five days on
the lesson. Other teachers using this lesson should take into consideration
that Ellington students often are in performances outside of school, a
practice that cuts into the academic schedule significantly at different
times of the year, and often makes it difficult for them to complete homework
assignments.

In terms of adapting the lesson for students of different ages or with
varied abilities, note that this class includes several special education
students, who are able to work from their own strengths due of the nature
of the lesson. Committee assignments provide built-in opportunities
to
draw on students’ different intelligences, as defined by Howard
Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory (see Essential
Readings). Alice Chandler stresses the need for teachers to find
out about their students's particular skills and interests before
using
a lesson like this, so that they can connect new ideas with prior learning
experiences and interests. She also points out that this lesson was
taught
almost at the end of the semester, so she had had ample time to learn
about individual students.

Other ways in which the lesson might be adapted include the following:

Determine what students like to listen to on the radio, watch on
television, or choose to see in plays as a key for figuring out how
to approach the assignment.

Have all committees pursue the same assignment.

Prepare younger students with worksheets rather than readings.

Separate the consideration of patriotism from that of foreign policy.

Provide fewer terms and/or be more specific about the materials students
can draw from for their selections.